How do you like Chinese food?

[thymeless]

Originally Posted by BreezyCooking

MSG is an enzyme (papaya-derived, if I'm not mistaken) that's used as a meat tenderizer & flavor enhancer.

Nope, that would be papain. It's an enzyme derived from papaya used as a meat tenderizer. Pineapple contains bromelian, another common meat tenderizer.

MSG is the salt form of glutamic acid, one of the amino acids. It forms naturally in many foods like soy sauce, and seaweed. Like other glutamates it's a strong flavor enhancers. Glutamates are formed when you cook down tomatoes for example which is part of the appeal of many tomato sauces.

You're the first I've hear to claim that MSG tenderizes meat. I don't think it does.

[BreezyCooking]

I stand corrected, but believe that MSG is an ingredient in some commercial meat tenderizer products, regardless of whether it actually does any tenderizing.